Bolt kicker on, yes or no? Tips?

[JSGOLD]

We have a 1976 Starcraft Supersport 16' aluminum deep V boat with two motors on it. A 55HP Evinrude (1976) and a 1984 Evinrude long shaft 8HP kicker. We use the kicker most of the time. The lakes we live near are HP limited but 2-3 times a year we venture out to bigger lakes and use the bigger one. Problem is, when we are at WOT on the 55 it tends to drag the 8hp even though it is tilted up. I love this old boat but it is a pain to deal with kickers because of the low transom. I added a safety chain last year and that helps but it still "moves" and that worries me. Using a plate isn't much of an option so I was thinking of bolting the 8hp through the aluminum and see if that does it. Also to consider, as we use the 8hp mostly we are adding a remote control box and cables to it later this year so again, using a lift plate just does not look like an option because of that and frankly, lack of space....Any thoughts on this?

 

[roscoe]

Re: Bolt kicker on, yes or no? Tips?

Had a 16 ss, now have an 18 Mariner, same transom as yours.

You can actually get by with a short shaft for your kicker, as the top of the transom stays the same height, but the bottom of the hull slopes upward.

I have bolted a 9" wide, 17" tall, 1.5" thick piece of plywood to both of these boats.
About 5.5 or 6" sticks up above the transom, kicker is bolted to this.
The plywood is mounted 1/8" toward the outside of the splash well drain hole.

I have a long shaft 9.8 Merc on there.
The kicker now sits high enough to allow it to swivel without the tiller handle hitting the raised corner of the transom.

When tilted and underway, the kicker is out of the water.

 

[JSGOLD]

Re: Bolt kicker on, yes or no? Tips?

Thanks! How many bolts did you use to mount the wood to the transom? That sounds like it would work for me. I did have a 5.5 short shaft motor on here and maybe should still, but ran across this 8hp and it was a very low hours motor. It does a good job for me but everything is a little more complex, such as having to start over again with dual controls etc. I had the old 5.5 set up with steering and a separate control box and worked pretty well. Not a lot of speed though. Any need to seal the bolt holes?

 

[roscoe]

Re: Bolt kicker on, yes or no? Tips?

I used 4bolts, 2 top, 2 bottom, 2" from the edges, coated the plywood with spar varnish.
I seal all holes made in the transom with a small dab of 3m 4200 marine sealant. Put it on the bolt as you are tightening it up.

 

[JSGOLD]

Re: Bolt kicker on, yes or no? Tips?

Thanks! This helps a LOT!

 

[64osby]

Re: Bolt kicker on, yes or no? Tips?

JS - Sounds like the issue is the long shaft on your 8. Maybe you should look around for a short shaft and then sell the long shaft.

I have a short shaft 7.5 on my Starcraft transom, I use a block of wood with a strap to get it up and out when not in use. Works good for me so far. Not high tech but......

 

[JSGOLD]

Re: Bolt kicker on, yes or no? Tips?

Yes, I had a 5.5 on there before but since it had no tilt it almost got dragged off too....Might have been easier to deal with but the long shaft is a low hrs motor while the 5.5 had issues that made me concerned with it long term. I suppose I might try and swap or sell but hate to wind up with something not as dependable. In hind site I had my choice between this one and a short shaft 9.9, a 1979 model I think...also low hours. No doubt that would have been a better choice as the control box would have worked as well. Live and learn I guess. I will keep an eye out but with money being like it is and long shafts not being used much here locally I am stuck for a while.